Haiti holds US citizens suspected of child trafficking

(AFP) – 9 hours ago

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haitian police were holding 10 US citizens Sunday on suspicion they tried to slip out of the country with 31 Haitian children in a trafficking scheme, a government minister said.

Haitian Social Affairs Minister Yves Christallin said the police arrested five men and five women with US passports, and two Haitians, as they tried to cross into the Dominican Republic with the children Friday night.

He said two pastors were also involved, one in Haiti and one in Atlanta, Georgia.

"This is an abduction, not an adoption," said Christallin.

Christallin said the US citizens did not have the proper documents to take the children out of Haiti, nor letters of authorization from their parents.

The children were aged two months to 12 years and had come from different places, he said.

"What is important for us in Haiti is that a child needs to have an authorization from this ministry to leave the country," he said.

US embassy officials were not immediately available to comment on the case.

Haitian officials have voiced fears that child traffickers will take advantage of the chaos after Haiti's massive January 12 quake to slip out of the country with children in illegal adoption schemes.

There is also concern that legitimate adoption agencies may rush to take earthquake orphans out of the country before proper checks have been conducted to confirm their parents perished.

Haiti's quake severely crippled government agencies and pitched the country into a communications morass.

In an interview with NBC news, a family member of one of those arrested said the Americans believed the matter was a misunderstanding over documentation. They were identified by Christallin as members of an Idaho-based charity called New Life Children's Refuge.

Haitian police chief Mario Andresol said the Americans were being held at the Judicial Police headquarters in Port-au-Prince and that the children had been transferred to a facility north of the city, in Croix de Bouquets.

He said an investigation was underway to determine how the children came into the Americans' custody.

"Now it's up to the Justice Department do to their job," Andresol said.

A document posted online by the group asks for donations to bring 100 Haitian children to safety in the Dominican Republic and for volunteers to take care of the children during two-week stints.

Under the heading "Purpose," it reads: "Rescue Haitian orphans abandoned on the streets, makeshift hospitals, or from collapsed orphanages."

It says the group has leased a 45-room hotel in Cabarete as a temporary shelter for the children.

It also includes a prayer request "for God to continue to grant favor with the Dominican government in allowing us to bring as many orphans as we can into the DR."

Christallin said it was "too bad that it was Americans who have been implicated in this affair, because they are helping us (with earthquake relief), as many countries are."

The United States has urged citizens moved by Haiti's earthquake to show patience in adopting children, as reports emerge that some children have fallen prey to human traffickers, or even misidentified as orphans.

Haiti said its prime minister will have to sign off on every minor's departure abroad for the time being.

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This is a perfect example of what happens when people who want to do good, but have no experience and do not follow the laws of the land.

Human trafficking is a major problem for Florida, ranking third in the country for the crime. JSO Lt. Mike Eason said Jacksonville is an attractive spot for traffickers.
"Not only is Jacksonville a port city, but also the fact that it is a major highway hub with I-10 and I-95," Eason explained.
Trafficking is not just international, they are also working to stop domestic, often underage sex, trafficking.
"Primarily these pimps target habitual run away females and have them prostitute for them," Eason said they are working two such cases right now.
They are trying to make you more aware of the danger signs so you can report potential trafficking to them.
"Anything that looks like it is out of the ordinary. People who seem like they are not doing what they are doing willingly," Eason said.
Also lots of people in a small place with one spokesperson are another warning sign.
Since this trafficking is behind the scene and often un-reported it is hard to get an exact figure on how much human trafficking passes through the area. Eason said it is a problem and getting more the public involved will help them fight the traffickers.

The Sheriff will hold a Monday press conference to discuss their plans more.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month is a time to recommit to stopping human traffickers, U.S. President Barack Obama said.

"The victims of modern slavery have many faces. They are men and women, adults and children," Obama said in a proclamation Monday declaring January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. "Yet, all are denied basic human dignity and freedom."

Even though the "dim years of chattel slavery" in the United States ended by President Abraham Lincoln's actions and the Civil War, Obama said "the darkness and inhumanity of enslavement exists."

During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, "we acknowledge that forms of slavery still exist in the modern era, and we recommit ourselves to stopping the human traffickers who ply this horrific trade," the proclamation read.

Obama called on the global community to provide safe havens to victims and to prosecute the traffickers.

"With improved victim identification, medical and social services, training for first responders, and increased public awareness, the men, women, and children who have suffered this scourge can overcome the bonds

of modern slavery, receive protection and justice, and successfully reclaim their rightful independence."

National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month culminates in National Freedom Day Feb.1, Obama said.

"I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the vital role we can play in ending modern slavery, and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities."

NORTH AMERICA

North Carolina: Greenville mayor proclaimed January as a month of human trafficking awareness. North Carolina, according to the report, is particularly vulnerable to human traffickers because of the major highways and  a large agricultural industry. 

Texas: Austin police arrested two men for holding six illegal immigrants against their will. Police discovered almost a naked man who was bleeding on the street last week. According to the affidavit, he broke the window and escaped from the apartment complex that he was imprisoned with other five smuggled people.  The report also states that police department in Austin receives 25-30 human trafficking cases every month. 

Florida: A man accused of sex trafficking his underage wife was freed after the alleged victim recanted her story. The victim  and her children are currently under the state custody. Meanwhile, the federal authorities, according to the report, are still investigating the allegations. 

Washington: The legislators around the country are pressing laws to assist runaways and child prostitutes. The new bills include improvement on early intervention, social services, runaway track downs by the police.    

Maryland: A 42 years old man was arrested for pimping on four minors. The prosecutors said that he met these girls on the street of Washington and Maryland and prostituting them in downtown, D.C. When the man began prostituting them, the girls were in the age between 12 -16. The victims lived with the man, his children, and two prostitutes. 

ASIA

Azerbaijan: The authorities revealed the 80 facts of crimes connected to human trafficking cases in 2009. According to the report, 21 criminal groupings have been neutralized and 91 victims have been revealed on these facts." Also,  54 victims of human trafficking have been placed in the shelters for further assistance. 

Australia: Two Sydney men face 300 child sex charges. They were arrested for molesting boys in the age between 10 and 18  as well as prostituting them. 

AFRICA

South Africa: The Thai woman who was charged with trafficking women from Bankok was denied bail last week. According to the report, the court concluded that her bail would place on the risk of fleeing the country to evade trial.  

Niger:  A local NGO in cooperation with UNICEF help young women build economic power. Child labor is a big problem in Niger. Children are expected to work as early as five on the street. To meet their family needs, children are placed at risk of sexual abuse and exploitation on the street. Sometimes, children enter prostitution to make a living. The program helps them learn new skills to better themselves and help their family. 

My Journey in the Anti-Slavery Movement

In 2009, I have seen the anti-slavery movment grow from boutique gatherings to events that involved tens of thousands of people who want to do something to end this evil. Images of child slavery, child soldiers, child sex slaves are in the consciousness of millions more people today than a year ago. This is a movement in which people want to take action, and not simply buy a t-shirt. Every day, I receive more and more requests from people who are inspired to volunteer in rescue operations. But, we also need to focus on stopping the problem before it begins and to ensure that rescue operations are doing a good job.

I took a journey with a delegation from World Pulse to Cambodia in February. It was a gathering of extraordinary, smart and dedicated women. At that time, I served on the Board of the fastest growing anti-slavery organization in the world, raising funds and awareness to end slavery. Our World Pulse journey showed me what works and what fails in the rehabilitation of survivors. I'd like to share some of these top three ideas:

1. Invest in rescue operations that are real. Make sure that there is a functioning operation. Some websites have pictures of buildings that are "to be purchased." Ask questions, and reach out to people in the movement that know whether operations are real. This year, inflated claims that slavery was ended in the cocoa industry were publically refuted by showing that the rescue operation was an empty building.

2. Invest in operations that provide opportunities for job training and placment beyond third world manufacturing and personal care. Ask what language and education services are provided. Make sure that you are not supporting transitioning women from slavery to sweatshop. That is not real, sustainable progress. If you have skills or knowledge, volunteer as an educator.

3. Invest in operations that provide true mental and physical health care. Some operations will not test or treat sex slave rescuees for HIV or other disease. Insist that these basic care needs are met.

Ending slavery - is, in part, about creating lasting opportunities through education and creation of markets. Hold
rescue operations to basic, common sense, standards. Making a difference is a good start of a conversation, but hard work and measurable results are essential.

Beth A. Klein
www.lawcolorado.net

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